17 January 2024 01:10 pm Views - 233
Steve Smith's initial stint as a Test opener was billed as the headline act, but it was outshone by an even more grandiose introduction as West Indies speedster Shamar Joseph kept his underdog team in the game on a compelling first day at Adelaide Oval.
Joseph's breezy 36 with the bat was a mere warm-up for his bowling that brought the wicket of Smith from his first ball then another vital strike as Australia went to stumps 2-59 and 129 runs adrift, with new number four Cameron Green 6no and veteran opener Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 30.
On a well-grassed Adelaide Oval pitch that head curator Damian Hough had foreshadowed might be a touch slow on day one before picking up pace, the West Indies' last batting pair salvaged pride to lift their score to an almost passable 188.
But after contributing a lion's share of those invaluable runs with the bat, Joseph delivered an even more stunning introductory note with the ball by removing freshly minted opener Smith (12) and Australia number three Marnus Labuschagne in a memorable maiden spell.
The lithe right-armer from the isolated village in Guyana's densely vegetated interior became the first West Indies bowler after Trinidad's Tyrell Johnson at The Oval in 1939 to claim a wicket with his first delivery in Test cricket.
And while Johnson's victim was little-known England opener Walter Keeton who played just two Tests, Joseph can claim one of the greatest batters the game has witnessed occupying the same role at the top of the order.
SHAMAR JOSEPH WITH HIS FIRST BALL IN TEST CRICKET!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 17, 2024
And it's Steve Smith who's the wicket! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/QpV0Aak1Dd